Maryland

When the final out was recorded in Maryland’s 4-0, Feb. 16, 2018 win over Tennessee, it was the period on the perfect script.

Terrapin ace Taylor Bloom pitched seven dominant innings, scattering six hits while striking out nine batters without issuing a walk. Second baseman Nick Dunn, entering the season as one of the Big Ten’s top draft prospects, showed his star power, going 2-for-3 with two walks and two home runs. Junior all-conference outfielder Marty Costes recorded a pair of hits in five at-bats.

And first-year head coach Rob Vaughn, after spending five years on the staff of former coach John Szefc, led the team to victory in his first game at the helm.

Everything was there. Pitching, offense, an errorless contest, and the new coach grabbing a road win at an Southeastern Conference school.

The feel good story didn’t last long, as Maryland’s 2018 went every which way except what was to be expected on paper.

Heading into the 2018 season, Maryland was a consensus pick to finish among the Big Ten’s top three, ticketed for a second consecutive NCAA Tournament. Alongside Bloom, sophomore left-hander Tyler Blohm, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, spearheaded the rotation. Dunn and Costes were to make up the heart of a deep lineup, surrounded by the likes of shortstop A.J. Lee and outfielder Zach Jancarski. Lee was an All-Big Ten Third Team selection in 2017, while Jancarski batted .325 with 17 home runs.

On paper, there was a lot to like about Maryland, the rotation, the veterans in the field, the power potential and enough speed to keep opposing pitchers on their toes. It all appeared to be there. And with Vaughn’s knowledge of the programs and players, having recruited them and serving as their hitting coach, the high expectations didn’t seem out of hand, even for a first-year coach. But in hindsight, that familiarity, as well as it served him to take over the Terrapin program as one of Division I baseball’s youngest head coaches, may have ultimately hindered the team’s on-field success.

“I think as a coaching staff, that’s where I really dropped the ball, and I wish like anything I could take it back for that group of seniors and juniors that left,” Vaughn said, as a 24-30 season saw Maryland fall well shy of preseason expectations. “I think you had such a group that you look on paper and think, you know what, they have been through the ringer, I’ve busted those guys up for three years, I can be a little lighter on them, I can kind of pull the reigns back a bit because they’ve got it…and then when we got punched in the mouth in March, we had no idea how to respond to adversity, no idea how to pick ourselves up and grind through something.”

Instead of participating in a regional for the fourth time in five seasons, Maryland’s season ended before the Big Ten Tournament started. A 9-14 record in conference play produced way to a ninth-place finish in the Big Ten table. In an up-and-down year, which never saw Maryland garner any traction, there wasn’t a guide for Vaughn to fall back on. As the team took their lumps, it was Maryland’s first losing season since 2011, when current Michigan head coach Erik Bakich oversaw a 21-35 season, so too did he, learning the nuances of being a head coach and how to lead an entire program on and away from the diamond.

“As a young coach, one of the biggest things I had to learn was balancing different things,” said Vaughn, who at age 30 was named the eighth head coach in program history. “Me and Coach Szfec aren’t the same person, we manage people differently, we lead a bit differently.

“I was kind of caught in this place last year, where it was like, I worked with the hitters for five years, that’s all I’ve ever coached, those are my guys, to trying to figure out what does my role actually look like. Am I the CEO type? Am I the still the guy that coaches the hitters? What exactly does that role look like, and there’s honestly some growing pains with that because I felt like I was trying to find myself.”

Heading into a second offseason leading the program, to go forward Vaughn realized he needed to take a step back.

“I kind of got back to what I’m super passionate about and the reason I got into this in the first place. It’s not to be a CEO, it’s not to sit at the top and watch other people coach; I love recruiting, I love coaching hitters, I like being on the field every day.

“I think I listened to a lot of people last year where it’s like man, as a head coach you have so many responsibilities, you’re just not going to have time, this and that. Frankly, you find time for what you really care about. For me, a big piece of it is getting back to the stuff I love.”

Although the team may not have reached its full potential, a .243 average bettered only Penn State’s .233 clip and the team pitched to a 5.28 ERA, Dunn did bat .330 with 17 doubles and 10 home runs, Jancarski and fellow senior Kevin Boindic batted .279, Costes reached base at a .382 mark with six home runs, and Bloom logged 79.1 innings.

All of those players, each a three or four-year starter, are gone. With a roster off 22 underclassmen and seven transfers, Vaughn’s hand was almost forced for him to get back to being more hands on.

Sometimes the obstacles in front of us provide the way forward.

“The first week, we didn’t even get on a baseball field, we spent it in the classroom,” Vaughn said. “We actually took them down to D.C. one day, did some stuff in D.C. one morning from a conditioning standpoint. Just really try to get them to understand that we’re not a program that’s going to compare our success based on going to Omaha or not going to Omaha, it’s about developing people. At the heart of it, that’s what we want to be about. I think the byproduct of that is you’ll get guys that will run through a wall for you, at this level you end up winning a ton of games.”

With a better understanding of how to lead a program of young men and finding a balance with hitting coach Justin Swope, Vaughn feels everything he and the team went through last year will only make them tougher, closer and ready to rebound in a big way.

“I think I learned a ton, I had a ton of growing pains last year. But it’s been really good with this group of freshmen, combined with our sophomores, our freshmen last year, sophomores this year. (Justin) Vought, (Randy) Bednar and those guys, that left them with a really sour taste in their mouths. They weren’t the guys that said screw it, I’m going to go transfer somewhere else, we gotta make this thing right. So those guys have seen how it’s been done when we weren’t firing on all cylinders, when we weren’t going about our business the right and those guys have been bound and determined to not let it happen again. Between those classes and having a few really, really impact seniors back this year, it’s been really fun to get back to coaching those guys up the way we want to do.”

Maryland appeared in three NCAA Tournaments between 2014 and 2017. In the first two regional appearances, 2014 and 2015, the Terps advanced through the opening weekend, en route to participating in the Charlottesville Super Regionals. Falling just shy of reaching the College World Series on two occasions, the run of postseason success saw Maryland tabbed as D1Baseball.com’s preseason Big Ten favorite during each of the program’s first three Big Ten seasons. The Terps were not D1Baseball.com’s favorite last year, that was Indiana, but the Terps were still predicted to be an NCAA Tournament-bound club. A season many expected to see Maryland continue its winning ways finished anything but. Under first-year head coach Rob Vaughn, Maryland not only missed the NCAA Tournament, but failed to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament, finishing ninth in the conference. Now, with lesser external expectations, the hope in College Park is that Vaughn’s first year leading the Terps was as invaluable of a learning tool as the reps gave to many underclassmen. But any postseason showing will come down to the showings of a quartet of seniors, a class looking to lead Maryland back to its winning ways and achieve the same highs they entered the program on.

What to expect in 2019

Forcing their way into the national discussion on Szefc, it was supposed to be more of the same as Vaughn was promoted from his associate head coach role. On paper, there were more than enough reasons to justify any expectation of Maryland finishing among the Big Ten leaders. In Taylor Bloom and Tyler Blohm, the former a three-year starter and the latter the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, a stout 1-2 punch was to lead the rotation. Between Nick Dunn at second and Marty Costes and Zach Jancarski in the outfield, a trio of proven veterans were to anchor the lineup, with Kevin Biondic, AJ Lee and Will Watson providing key contributions in supporting roles. There seemed to be enough fire power atop the pitching staff and throughout the lineup to take aim at a 40-win season. Not only did the expected not come to pass, injuries and bad luck contributed to a forgetful season. While Blohm did ok as a sophomore, though limited due to injury, and there were bright spots in Biondic’s performance as a two-way player and Hunter Parsons emerging as the staff ace, the brightest spot, Nick Dunn’s offensive performance, was the one expectation that was met, but can’t be brought into 2019. The St. Louis Cardinals picked the second baseman in the fifth round of last June’s draft.

One would believe a second time through for Vaughn will be easier and more navigable. And on a team with 22 underclassmen, players who were thrown to the fire early and often should take a step forward. But, and perhaps this is a positive in light of last season, there is little that can be counted on to create any external expectations. The Terps feature just four seniors, a number less than the seven juniors transferring into the program. With key departures, plenty of newcomers, some upperclassmen with a track record of success and others still waiting for the breakout season, a wide range of outcomes are in front of the Terps in 2019.

At the plate and in the field

Only one player, Dunn, batted above .300 for the Terps last year. With the second baseman leaving a year of eligibility on the table to pursue professional baseball, a new offensive threat would need to emerge. But it wasn’t only Dunn’s departure that will force the need for someone to step up at the plate for Maryland. Last year’s top five hitters are no longer with team either due to graduation, Biondic, Jancarski and Watson, or to the draft, Costes and Dunn. The leading returning hitter from last year is Lee, who bated .232 over 203 at-bats. Right behind him is Wright, who recorded 38 hits in 165 at-bats for a .230 average.

With what Maryland returns, or the lack of, there may not be a duo in the conference that mean more to their team’s success than Lee and Wright, as they return to lock down Maryland’s respective shortstop and third base positions. To Vaughn and staff, and to anyone who’s sene Maryland over the last two years, there is more to Lee than what he showed last year. Just in 2017, when he was at third base while Kevin Smith, on of Baseball America’s top 100 pro prospects, manned shortstop. As a sophomore, Lee batted .307 with eight doubles and eight home runs, producing a .474 slugging percentage. While Lee did hit another eight doubles in 2018, he managed just one home run, as his slugging percentage dipped to .296. Even Lee’s stolen bases, which led the team, went in reverse from 2017, down to 12 from 15, when he was an All-Big Ten Third Team selection. While Wright doesn’t have the DI history that Lee has, Wright did hit .333 with an 1.007 OPS for Colorado Northwestern Community College in 2017, and arrived at Maryland to rave reviews from the staff. Though he didn’t match the numbers he put up as a sophomore, Wright can’t be wrote off. It’s not uncommon for a highly touted Juco transfer to have a lukewarm first year in the Big Ten only to explode as a senior. Iowa’s Joe Booker and Ohio State’s Noah McGowan are two examples of transfers who finished as all-conference selections following a tepid first Division I season.

The only other returning Terrapin who made at least 35 starts in the field is sophomore Randy Bednar. Picked by Baseball America to be the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Bednar scuffled as a freshman, too often going down on strikes, striking out 46 times in 149 at-bats, but did show a little pop, recording seven doubles and six triples. Be it Chris Alleyne, who recorded 25 at-bats last year as a freshman, or transfers like Ben Irvine and Caleb Walls, new faces will join Bednar in the outfield, and he will be called upon to play up to the potential that saw him drafted in the 27th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves.

Taking his turn as the ballyhooed freshman is Kody Milton. Son of former Terp and 11-year MLB veteran Eric Milton, Kody participated in the Under Armour All-America Game, an exhibition played at Wrigely Field bringing together the best prep players in the country, and joins Big Ten baseball with the physical stature and ability to be an impact player from the start. At 6’3, 205, Milton already looks the part of Division I first baseman, and will be asked to step into the role of a standout one. Around the game his whole life, lofty expectations are nothing new to Milton, which may ease his ability to be the force Maryland needs to support the returning starters.

Behind the plate, Justin Vought returns after appearing in 22 games. Though he batted .174 in limited action, half of Vought’s 12 hits went for extra bases, with three doubles and three homes. Vought can put on the most impressive batting practice show, but it’s his ability behind the plate which has Vaughn and staff believing he’s a future star. Of the catchers Maryland has had during Vaughn’s time as an assistant and now head coach, the catch-and-throw ability of Vought trumps them all. The numbers support that. Although a small sample size, Vought threw out six of 16 runners on the bases.

Marty Costes’ younger brother, Maxwell, is a player to keep an eye on. Wright at third base may move Costes to the outfield in 2019, but he has the ability and agility to be a long-term option at the hot corner. After redshirting last year, Michael Pineiro will have an opportunity to force his way into the lineup and is a player Vaughn foresees contributing to the offense.

With Marty Costes, Dunn and Jancarski moving on, there is an obvious void in power that needs to be fill. According to Vaughn, one of the problems that plagued Maryland last year was the inability to generate offense in a variety of manners. Overall, there figures to be more speed in this Maryland outfit, an aspect the Terps rely more heavily on as newcomers get up to the speed of the college game and returning players take the next step or revert to their previous levels of success.

On the mound

More certainty resides on the mound for Maryland, with the Terps set to have an ace, star-power and stopper.

With injuries and ineffectiveness derailing the plan of Blohm and Bloom to carry the day, Maryland’s #3 starter, Hunter Parsons, ended the season as the team’s top arm. One of three players with a sub-4.00 ERA, the only to do so pitching more than 25 innings, Parsons pitched to a 5-2 record thanks to a 3.44 ERA. Not overpowering, Parsons struck out 62 batters, only eight more than Blohm did in 29.2 more innings, but with an ability to avoid hard contact, Parsons held the opposition to a .225 average and surrendered only four home runs in 324 at-bats. Able to give Maryland a solid six innings or more, he did log two complete games, Parsons will step into the Friday role for Vaughn.

That leaves the Saturday role to Blohm. The numbers might not have been quite as strong as 2017 when he held a 3.48 ERA over 75 innings, with 71 strikeouts and a .227 batting average, but a year after being the Big Ten’s top freshman, Blohm was more than solid in the Terps’ rotation. Just as he did the year before, Blohm struck out nearly a batter per inning pitched, 54 in 59.1, while doubling up on the numbers of walks issued: 27. Blohm did yield seven home runs in 11 starts, and saw the opposition bat increase there average against him by .021, but there aren’t many coaches who wouldn’t take Blohm as one of their first two weekend starters.

It may not be until conference play that Maryland’s third starter solidifies his role, but more important than rounding out the weekend staff after Parsons and Blohm is finding relievers to take the ball after they exit their respective starts.

Last year, eight pitchers saw action as relievers in 10 games. All but Biondic and senior right-handed pitcher John Murphy carried an ERA over 6. The good is that Biondic shows a prior year’s success, or lack of, means little. He emerged as a two-way player for his senior season and notched two saves next two a 2.59 ERA in 24.1 innings. The bad is that Biondic is now in the Red Sox system, leaving only Murphy as a reliever with a history of getting outs when needed. Fortunately for Vaughn, Murphy has the ability to be a lights out closer. In 25.1 innings, Murphy struck out 37 batters. The control needs tightened, Murphy’s 13.14 K/9 was paired with a 7.46 BB/9, but there is stuff and a tenacious bulldog mentality to enter the game in high-leverage situations.

After that, Vaughn inherited a team thin on the mound and in year two appears to be more of the same. Many underclassmen saw significant time on the mound last year. That can be good in getting a crop of arms a taste of what’s needed to succeed at this level. But Maryland would certainly like a little more proven track record in support of Blohm, Murphy and Parsons who have the ability to band together and help guide the club towards a winning record. The key for Maryland’s relief corp: throw more strikes. Grant Burleson, Sean Fisher, Billy Phillips, Mike Vasturia and Elliott Zoellner all return after combining to pitch 108 innings. But 66 strikeouts among the five were countered by 74 walks.

Five things to watch

Who emerges as a reliable arm to bridge the gap to Murphy

Is there a next-in-line after Lowe-Smith-Dunn

How quick does Milton adapt to the college game

If Vought become’s the Big Ten’s premier catcher

Consistency in midweek games

One weekend to circle

April 19-21 vs. Ohio State. It probably doesn’t jump out on the calendar. It isn’t the non-conference home series against East Carolina, a team entering the season with a top 20 ranking, nor is it a series against the media’s Big Ten favorite, Michigan. And it’s not the May roadtrip to Minnesota. But here’s what the series against Ohio State is:

-The lone home series in April’s four Big Ten series.

-Three games in a span of 11 games in 14 days.

-A weekend against a team with an entire new weekend rotation, uncertain of their own pitching depth.

The series against the Buckeyes will test Maryland’s two areas of greatest concern: pitching depth and youth. If Maryland can have success on the mound in the midst of a busy April, it will be a good sign, especially so with a young team. And it’s always important to take care of conference games at home. But this would be the time of year where fatigue can creep in, where players who are going to make that jump as freshman make it, and a series where Maryland’s postseason fate can swing from one end to another.

Settling into mid-March, the Big Ten has reached the part of the college baseball season with midweek games litter the calendar. For those in the Midwest, cold and wintery weather across Big Ten country cancelled games in Champaign and Iowa City, but for teams on spring break, taking to parts south and west there was action to be found.

Buckeyes take two in Port Charlotte

The second of two pre-Big Ten trips to Florida, Ohio State returns to Columbus riding a three-game winning streak after winning a pair of midweek games in Port Charlotte.

On Tuesday, Ohio State topped Lehigh, 7-3. The Buckeyes wasted little time scoring, crossing home twice in the opening inning, with senior DH Zach Ratcliff providing a big hit with an RBI-double. Lehigh responded with a run in their at-bat, but the Buckeye bats weren’t done, matching Lehigh with a run of their own in the bottom of the second.

OSU plated another run in the third, to take a 4-1 lead, but Lehigh cut the deficit to one run with two runs in their fourth-inning at-bat. But, again, Ohio State answered the bell. Junior center fielder Tre’ Gantt connected on his second home run of the season and Ratcliff added a sacrifice fly to give the Buckeyes breathing room and a 6-3 lead, OSU added an insurance run in the seventh to close the scoring.

Leading the team’s 12-hit attack, second baseman Noah McGowan, first baseman Bo Coolen and right fielder Dominic Canzone each picked up two hits in four at-bats. Left fielder Tyler Cowles matcher Ratcliff with two RBI. After freshman right-handed pitcher Jake Vance pitched 3.2 innings in hist first career start, Austin Woodby, Joe Stoll and Curtiss Irving combined to pitch 5.1 innings of three-hit, scoreless relief, striking out seven batters without issuing a walk.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Buckeyes reached .500 on the year, turning back the Bucknell Bison, 5-2, to even their record at 8-8.

The game was scoreless at its mid-point before the Buckeyes broke through with a two-run bottom of the fifth. With two outs, sophomore catcher Jacob Barnwell singled through the left side and moved up 90 feet when Gantt reached on an infield single up the middle. Senior shortstop Jalen Washington provided Ohio State with the game’s first lead, driving an opposite-field double down the right field line scoring Barnwell and Gantt. An unearned run in the bottom of the sixth provided the Buckeyes with further cushion.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Connor Curlis twirled a gem in his first career start. Curlis struck out eight batters in 5.1 innings of work, holding Bucknell to four hits and one walk. The Bison did strike for two runs in the top of the seventh, but Ohio State leveled the inning’s scoring with two runs of their own, with Gantt picking up a RBI-single then later scoring on a wild pitch.

Running his batting average to a team-best .345, Gantt led Ohio State with a 2-for-4 afternoon from his leadoff position, scoring a pair of runs. Sophomore third baseman Brady Cherry added two hits in four at-bats.

Terps fall to Tar Heels on the road

Maryland’s eight-game winning streak came to an end Tuesday night, falling at #13 North Carolina, 9-2.

Allowing two runs in the bottom of the first, sophomore Right-handed pitcher Hunter Parson was the victim of two unearned runs in the bottom of the second, before exiting after 1.2 innings of work. The two-inning production would be enough for the Atlantic Coast Conference club in the battle against its former conference peer. Maryland was kept off of the scoreboard save a two-RBI single in the third inning, off of the bat of sophomore second baseman Nick Dunn. Dunn’s hit, Maryland’s lone base hit on the evening, halved the Terrapin deficit, but an UNC four-spot in the fourth put the game away. Tar Heel pitchers struck out 12 batters on the night, only once allowing a runner to second base after the third inning.

Elsewhere

Winning the final two games of a three-game set at North Florida, Rutgers was unable to carry its momentum as the team headed south. Taking on Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton on Tuesday, the Scarlet Knights were downed by the Owls, 14-2. FAU scored in five of their eight at-bats, crossing home 10 times between the fourth and sixth innings. Rutgers could only muster four hits off Florida Atlantic pitching, two coming from Mike Carter, whose on-base streak stretched to 18 games.

Minnesota was held to one run and three hits in a 7-1 loss to Cal, Tuesday evening. Returning to California, after opening the season in Orange County with a weather-shortened weekend at UC-Irvine, the Gophers were quickly on the board. Right fielder Alex Boxwell tripled to right center and scored one batter later on a sacrifice fly from Luke Pettersen. But Minnesota’s scoring ended two batters in. Cal scored three runs in the bottom of the third to take a lead they would not relinquish, striking Minnesota pitchers for 13 hits on the day.

In this week’s edition of The Prospect Junkie, I spent some time chatting with ESPN College Baseball Analyst Mike Rooney as he provided perspective on the strength of the Big Ten Conference, and thoughts on some of the prospects within. In addition to providing in-game commentary on ESPN throughout the season, Rooney provides insight as a writer for Perfect Game.

BG: Which Big Ten teams have you had a chance to see thus far this season?

I’ve seen Michigan, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio State, and then I watched recently caught one of the Michigan State and South Carolina games last weekend on the Watch ESPN App. I also feel like I have a good feel for Maryland because I covered their Regional in 2015 when they upset UCLA, and I also sat on them for a series against Cal State Fullerton last year which was a very good series for them. I feel like I know their roster pretty well.

BG: What are your general thoughts on the strength of those teams?

Michigan looked really good, they stack up with anyone, anywhere. I loved everything about Michigan. I loved their style of play. I loved that they had seniors in center field, at shortstop, and at catcher. I love that they’ve got a little mojo. They were in the Regional a couple years ago and then they faltered last year so I actually like that they have a little scar from last year. So Michigan I think is a threat anywhere or anytime, I love that club.

I had really high hopes for Nebraska, and I feel like I just didn’t see them well. I’m sure with any of the Big Ten teams, you need to temper yourself when you see them in February and early March. I think that league is notorious for clubs playing differently at the end of the year. I think for Nebraska in particular, their older guys weren’t going yet. The junior year is a tough year for a college player and I think a couple of their guys were pressing a little bit, but there was a lot to like. I saw Luensmann struggle, but I still wrote him up as a heck of a prospect. There’s still a lot to like, he just performed poorly. I love Jake Meyers as a college player, [Scott] Schreiber is a monster and I saw Angelo Altavilla was tremendous all weekend. Mojo Hagge is a really good college player; he disrupts the game. I just saw them on what will ultimately end up being one of their worst weekends all year.

I think for Nebraska in particular, their older guys weren’t going yet. The junior year is a tough year for a college player and I think a couple of their guys were pressing a little bit, but there was a lot to like. I saw Luensmann struggle, but I still wrote him up as a heck of a prospect. There’s still a lot to like, he just performed poorly. I love Jake Meyers as a college player, [Scott] Schreiber is a monster and I saw Angelo Altavilla was tremendous all weekend. Mojo Hagge is a really good college player; he disrupts the game. I just saw them on what will ultimately end up being one of their worst weekends all year.

BG: Ohio State’s Tre’ Gantt got off to a hot start, in particular in the Big Ten PAC-12 Challenge. Tell me what you saw out of him.

He was good in that weekend. He’s a left-hander who has a feel for his game and a very handsy swing, which I like. He used the entire field and ran well. I understand he hasn’t played a ton of baseball, but he’s very intriguing. He moves well and has a good feel for how to play the game. He wasn’t really tested in CF in the games that I saw, but he’s definitely a name that you write down because’s he’s left-handed, and he can really run.

BG: Indiana has one of the better pro prospects in the conference in outfielder Logan Sowers. Did he make an impression on you?

Yeah, he was really interesting because while he didn’t play great, he so strong. He was stiffer than I anticipated, but he ran into two breaking balls. They play that tournament in Surprise (Ariz.) which is a Spring Training park that is massive in order to showcase outfield range. He hit a double in the gap and another ball to the base of the wall in centerfield. He was a little nicked up and limping around, but he was very intriguing to me. He’ll play every day and he’ll accumulate stats because he’s so physical. His physical presence is large. He was very competent in the outfield, but I felt like he was not 100%. I’m curious how he will handle real good velocity because he’s not rifling the bat through the zone. But boy, he’s super strong; crazy strong! Even when he’s hitting .167, he gets your attention because the two balls he hit were the loudest contact of the day so even his bad day is enticing.

He was a little nicked up and limping around, but he was very intriguing to me. He’ll play every day and he’ll accumulate stats because he’s so physical. His physical presence is large. He was very competent in the outfield, but I felt like he was not 100%. I’m curious how he will handle real good velocity because he’s not rifling the bat through the zone. But boy, he’s super strong; crazy strong! Even when he’s hitting .167, he gets your attention because the two balls he hit were the loudest contact of the day so even his bad day is enticing.

I’m curious how he will handle real good velocity because he’s not rifling the bat through the zone. But boy, he’s super strong; crazy strong! Even when he’s hitting .167, he gets your attention because the two balls he hit were the loudest contact of the day so even his bad day is enticing.

BG: The Big Ten may not have a top 10 overall talent like Tyler Jay or Kyle Schwarber this year, but Kevin Smith of Maryland might be the best bet at a first-rounder. What are your impressions of him?

I came out of that Regional in 2015 as the president of the Kevin Smith fan club. UCLA was the #1 overall seed, and this kid as a true freshman was so good. He handled every play, the game never sped up on him. And he had some really good at-bats, I think they hit him second in the order, so it was disappointing to see him have such a rough sophomore year.

When I saw him last year, you could tell he was trying to do too much. I was encouraged to hear about the summer. He’s off to a really rough start, and he’s not the first junior in the history of college baseball to have a rough time with the pressures of the draft year. Especially for a kid like him whose tools aren’t that loud but you start getting first round noise around you, I think that would be tough to reconcile mentally. I see he has 17 punch-outs in 14 games. Unless I’m whiffing on this, he’s a way better hitter than that. So to me, that screams that he’s trying to do too much. The things that I like about him is that he’s instinctual, he wore out

The things that I like about him is that he’s instinctual, he wore out right-center field, and he‘s a good baserunner. Also, really good pitching didn’t seem to phase him.

The fourth weekend of the season saw action on multiple Big Ten diamonds for the first time this season as the non-conference slate winds down. From Lincoln to College Park, teams are starting to settle in around the conference, and look to round into form with the conference season approaching.

In Columbia over the weekend as Michigan State fell to South Carolina, 3-2 and 5-2, here’s a look back at the weekend that was for the rest of the Big Ten.

Maryland, Michigan stay hot with sweeps

The Big Ten’s lone ranked team, Michigan, and the only team to begin the season with a ranking, Maryland, are powering through March, living up to the high expectations.

Wolverines continue tear

After eight games in California, Michigan returned closer to home with three games at Lipscomb. Snow and unseasonably cold temperatures for Nashville moved Saturday’s game into a Friday doubleheader. The Wolverines did a bit of everything in taking both games, knocking off the Bisons 11-2 and 4-3.

In the first game, Michigan received an outstanding start from junior left-handed pitcher Oliver Jaskie. Racking up a career-high 11 strikeouts, Jaskie held Lipscomb to one run off three hits in six innings, improving to 2-0 on the season. The bottom of the U-M lineup carried the day in support of Jaskie. Drew Lugbauer, Jonathan Engelmann and Johnny Slater, the 7-8-9 batters, combined to go 4-for-10 with four runs and seven RBI, Lugbauer and Slater each connecting on a home run. Lugbauer’s two-run home run in the top of the seventh followed Lipscomb scoring in the bottom of the sixth to cut Michigan’s lead if half, 2-1.

Michigan grabbed the initial lead in the nightcap, but needed a last at-bat rally to sweep the day. A 1-0 lead in the top of the third was matched by a Bison run in the home-half. Lipscomb added a run in the fourth and one in the eighth to take a 3-1 lead to the ninth inning. Sophomore Miles Lewis opened the inning with a single, followed by Harrison Wenson drawing a walk. Michael Brdar reached on a fielding error that allowed Lewis, cutting the deficit in half. Pinch-hitting, Engelmann’s big day continued in sending game-winner through the left side, scoring Brdar and Wenson and giving Michigan a 4-3 lead. Senior right-handed pitcher Jackson Lamb tossed a scoreless ninth to close the game.

Pitching was the story on Sunday as Michigan shutout Lipscomb, 5-0. In five innings of work, junior left-handed pitcher Michael Hendrickson held Lipscomb to two hits, their only hits on the day. The Lipscomb hitting effort was doubled by Brdar himself, the senior shortstop going 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, on a day he hit his second home run of the season. Wenson connected for his fourth longball of the year and leadoff batter Ako Thomas went 2-for-3 with two walks.

The three-game sweep pushes Michigan’s record to 12-3 on the season, winning for the 10th time in 11 games.

Maryland handles Bryant

Before falling to North Carolina Tuesday night, Maryland rebounded from a rocky first two weekends, where the team sat 1-5, with a lengthy winning streak. Taking on Bryant for three games at home at Bob Smith Stadium, the Terrapins swept the weekend to run their winning streak to eight games.

In the series opener, junior right-handed pitcher Brian Shaffer struck out eight batters while allowing one run off five hits over seven innings as Maryland rallied late for a 7-1 victory. Bryant scored first, picking up doubles and singles in consecutive at-bats with two outs in the top of the fourth. Bryant starter Steve Theetge held the Terps in check for five innings, but a Will Watson RBI-single in the sixth tied the game, before Madison Nickens lifted a sacrifice fly to put Maryland in front. John Szefc’s team scored three runs in the seventh behind a two-RBI hit from Watson and tacked on two more in the eighth to close the scoring.

Weather also forced Maryland to sit out of action on Saturday, the Terrapins opting to double-up and play two on Sunday.

With temperatures in the low-30s, Maryland pitchers made sure the Bulldog bats stayed cold. Five pitchers combined to hold Bryant to eight hits in 18 innings, Maryland winning both games on Sunday, 9-2 and 4-0.

Winning the first game decisively, three runs in the bottom of the first would be all junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Bloom needed. Evening his record to 2-2 on the season, Bloom scattered four hits in seven innings, allowed two unearned runs in a 104-pitch effort. Sophomore right-hander John Murphy needed 18 pitches over the final two innings to cap the victory. Starting with an RBI-double in the bottom of the first, sophomore outfielder Marty Costes led the Maryland attack, going 3-for-3 with three runs. In the cleanup spot, first baseman Brandom Gum went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs, as Maryland scored two runs in each of the third, fifth and sixth innings.

Gum provided Maryland with the first run of the night cap, a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first scoring center fielder Zach Jancarski who drew a leadoff walk. A three-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth ended the scoring on the day, spurred by shortstop Kevin Smith driving a two-run double to right field. As Maryland improved to 9-5 on the season, freshman left-hander Tyler Blohm earned his third win in four decision, tossing six scoreless innings, surrendering only three hits and one walk, striking out six batters.

IU and RU show resilency in weekend wins

Two clubs looking to right the ship, the crimson and cream of Indiana and the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers were red-hot at the plate in winning weekends.

For Indiana, the Hoosiers bounced back in a big way after falling to Middle Tennessee State, 5-3 on Friday. In their home opener, a 3-0 deficit after two innings was too big for the Hoosiers to battle back from. But it would be the last time the team trailed against the Lightning. IU erupted for 23 hits en route to a 12-1 win on Saturday. Every

But it would be the last time the team trailed against the Lightning. IU erupted for 23 hits en route to a 12-1 win on Saturday. Every

IU erupted for 23 hits en route to a 12-1 win on Saturday. Every starter recorded a hit, with Matt Gorski, Jake Matheny and Luke Miller picking up three hits, Craig Dedelow led the offense with a 4-for-5 game, picking up two doubles. Indiana scored a run in the second, before erupting for seven in the third, adding a tally in the fourth and three in the fifth. Brian Hobbie pitched six innings of one-run baseball to record his first victory of the season.

Indiana’s offensive output was cut in half in the rubber match, but the third Big Ten team to toss a shutout allowed IU to cruise to a 6-0 victory. Andrew Saalfrank pitched six innings, striking out six batters, allowing just three hit. Matt Lloyd and BJ Sabol allowed one hit each, respectively over two and one innings to clinch the shutout. Leadoff batter Alex Krupa picked up his second home run in as many games, opening the game with a leadoff home run to provide the Hoosiers with all the offense they would need on the day. Ryan Fineman and Jeremy Houston each picked up a pair of hits.

Rutgers followed the Indiana script, dropping the opening game before picking up two straight victories to end the weekend with a series win.

Against North Florida, the Ospreys were too much to hand on Friday night, the Atlantic Sun program rolling to a 15-1 victory.

But the Scarlet Knights showed their mettle, rebounding with a 2-1 victory on Saturday. Making his first start since May 10, 2015, senior right-handed pitcher Gaby Rosa pitched seven innings of one-run baseball, holding North Florida to three hits. The sterling start from Rosa allowed Rutgers to make the most of two runs. In the top of the second, third baseman Milo Freeman was hit by a pitch and scored on a double to right center by Chris Folinusz. The two would be back at it in the fourth, giving RU the winning run. Freeman and Christian Campbell picked up back-to-back singles before Folinusz sent a liner to center field, plating Freeman for the go-ahead run. Freeman and Folinusz each went 2-for-3 to pace Rutgers at the plate. Two scoreless innings of relief from Max Hermann closed the game.

RU carried its momentum into Sunday, where an 18-hit attack powered the team to victory. Rutgers scored in all but the second, sixth and eighth innings, as all nine batters reached base safely. First baseman Mike Carter picked up four hits in five at-bats, driving in five runs, to lead a 3-4-5 heart of the order that went 11-for-17. On the mound, Campbell was the benefactor of the offensive onslaught, moving to 2-0 on the year with five innings of work, allowing four runs, three earned, while holding North Florida to five hits.

Opportunities squandered versus ranked foes

The Big Ten has had a rough go against ranked teams this season, and this past weekend was no different. Games against Coastal Carolina, Florida Gulf Coast and South Carolina provided the conference with opportunities to take down the number 21, 24 and nine teams in this week’s NCBWA poll. While Michigan State wasn’t sharp enough to take a game in two tries against South Carolina, Illinois and Ohio State did finish the weekend with a win over a ranked foe. But both were left to stomach ninth-inning collapses that cost each a weekend victory.

Against FGCU, Ohio State carried a 9-4 lead into the ninth inning of Friday’s weekend opener, before several miscues put an end to the Buckeyes upset bid. Ohio State pitchers issued two walks and hit a batter, with two errors, the latter on would-be inning-ending double play, leading to a 10-9 walk-off defeat. Florida Gulf Coast enjoyed a 13-1 victory on Saturday to take the series from Ohio State before Greg Beals’ team bounced back on Sunday. But again having to sweat out a ninth inning. Ohio State scored three runs in the first, and responded to a FGCU run in the third with one in the fifth. An insurance run in the seventh would prove vital as FGCU scored three times in the ninth, but this time OSU left the tying run on base, escaping with a 5-4 win.

The Illini started their weekend with a win over Coastal Carolina, 7-6, giving the Illini its first win over a defending national champion since 1965. The see-saw affair saw CCU score three runs in the second, but Illinois responded with four in the fourth, powered by Anthony Drago hitting a three-run home run in the inning. The Chanticleers regained the lead with two runs in the fifth, adding a run in the sixth, but Illinois crossed home twice in the seventh and score the winning run in the eighth. Four pitchers worked the final three innings to shore up the marquee victory.

With weather moving up Sunday’s game to Saturday, the start of a long day at the park was shaping up to be a special one. Freshman right-handed pitcher Ty Weber carried a no-hitter into the eighth, ending the day after 7.2 innings of one-hit and one-run baseball. Illinois holding a 2-1 lead since the first inning, was unable to clinch a weekend win when back-to-back one-out home runs lead to a walk-off victory for Coastal Carolina, 3-2. Illinois did receive a no-hit start from sophomore pitcher Luke Shilling, the right-hander pitched five hitless innings but also walked seven batters. Two runs in the sixth and four in the seventh gave CCU a 6-0 victory, with Illinois held to five hits and committing four errors in the rubber match.

Elsewhere

Nebraska salvaged a home series against Western Carolina, taking Sunday’s game, 10-0, after dropping the first two games of the weekend. Western Carolina won 5-2 on Friday, and 8-2 on Saturday, but the Catamounts could not crack Jake Meyers, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week. The Husker starting pitcher tossed a shutout, scattering five hits, walking one batter with four strikeouts, needing 104 pitches to toss the complete game. Every Nebraska batter recorded a hit in a 13-hit output, lead by right fielder Scott Schreiber going 3-for-5.

In back-to-back weekends, Northwestern has played its best baseball on the west coast. The Wildcats split a four-game set at Santa Clara in the first weekend of March, and now have their first weekend victory of the season. NU split a Friday doubleheader against Portland, falling 5-2 before rebounding with a 6-4 victory. In the rubber match, a three-RBI game from Ben Dickey propelled the ‘Cats to a 9-5, seven-inning win.

Mark Penn State as another club who fared well in the Pacific time zone. The Nittany Lions only had four hits in their weekend opener at Sacramento State, but it was enough for four runs in a 4-2 victory. Corner outfielders Jordan Bowersox and Nick Riotto each slugged a home run in support of junior right-hander Sal Biasi. Biasi struck out nine while holding Sacramento State to two runs, in 5.2 innings. Nick Distasio tossed the final 3.1 innings, allowing just one hit, to give PSU the win. An 11-3 loss on Friday evened the series, but Penn State returned to State College with a second consecutive series win, picking up a 6-1 victory. Sophomore first baseman Willie Burger went 3-for-5 with two runs and four RBI, hitting his third home run of the season and added a double from the cleanup spot. A quartet of pitchers held Sacramento State to two hits, led by Cole Bartels pitching 3.2 innings in his first career start.

Against Cal State-Northridge, Purdue ended an extended weekend in Los Angeles County with a win. CSUN won the first game, 16-8, but pitchers ruled the day in game two. Each team limited to scoring in only one inning, CSUN’s four-run second topped Purdue’s one-run ninth in the win. Another four-run inning spelled doom for Purdue on Sunday. The Boilermakers scored twice in the top of the fifth to enjoy a 4-1 lead, but the Matadors struck for four runs in their fifth-inning at-bat, en route to a 5-4 victory. On Monday, Purdue’s bullpen and the big bat of Nick Dalesandro produced a 9-3 win. Four pitchers, Ross Learnard, Kyle Schweiger, Cameron Williams and Nick Wojtysiak combined to pitch 6.2 innings of one-run relief. The Purdue ‘pen held a 2-2 tie from the third inning on, allowing for a six-run eighth to be the decisive inning. Going 4-for-5, Dalesandro picked up two doubles and a pair of singles, scoring twice, his double to right field with a runner on igniting the 10-at-bat eighth.

Minnesota started the weekend strong with a 5-2 victory over Missouri State, but the Bears were a tough out at the plate the rest of the weekend, turning back the Gophers 7-2 and 12-3 to win the weekend in Minneapolis. Lucas Gilbreath struck out six batters in five innings on Friday, earning the victory in allowing three runs, one earned. Sunday’s game was the final contest for the Gophers in U.S. Bank Stadium for the season.

Iowa split its weekend in Port Charlotte, Fla., playing four games in the Snowbird Classic. The Hawkeyes dropped a 10-1 game to Villanova on Friday and were topped by Bucknell, 7-1 on Saturday. But after combining for two runs in the two defeats, Rick Heller’s group crossed home 23 times in taking a Sunday doubleheader against Lehigh. Iowa used an eight-run second inning to win 15-7 in the first game and racked up 18 hits to roll to an 8-3 win in the finale.

There’s no denying that the Big Ten Conference is gaining respect in the collegiate baseball world. From 2010-2014, the conference earned no more than two bids into the NCAA Tournament each season before peaking with a whopping five bids in 2015 followed by three more in 2016.

The Big Ten has deeper program talent and more parity from top to bottom than it has for years, as the eight bids notched by the conference over the past two seasons were earned by eight different teams.

Whether that program depth within the conference translates into individual prospect talent is another question. While there doesn’t appear to be a Kyle Schwarber or Tyler Jay in the Big Ten this season, both of whom were drafted in the top 10 overall picks in 2014 and 2015 respectively, there are still noteworthy players.

We’re taking the opportunity to highlight a few of the top prospects in the Big Ten that I’ll be watching closely this spring in preparation for June’s MLB Draft.

Kevin Smith, SS, Maryland

Not only did Smith go undrafted out of Columbia High School in East Greenbush, New York, he was barely recruited, with Maryland being his one and only DI scholarship offer.

If he was unknown prior to stepping onto campus, Smith made people take notice by starting 65 games in his freshman season for a Maryland team that would eventually make it’s second consecutive trip to the Super Regional round. A glove-first shortstop, Smith also produced a serviceable .259/.308/.407 slash line, with eight home runs as a sophomore before taking a step forward in the Cape Cod League.

Using wood bats last summer, Smith hit .301/.348/.427 with five home runs including the playoffs. Decorated with several preseason All-American accolades, Smith offers the best chance at a first round selection for the Big Ten due to his likelihood to stick at shortstop paired with an above-average power profile.

Brian Shaffer, RHP, Maryland

Shaffer has some pretty large shoes to fill as the ace of the Maryland staff. Mike Shawaryn started 48 games over three seasons for the Terrapins, winning 30 games and logging over 300 innings before the Red Sox him in the 5th round of the MLB Draft last summer.

Shaffer was no slouch last season, even stepping in for a struggling Shawaryn in the Friday night role for a brief period in route to an 8-3, 2.60 ERA 0.88 WHIP season. Shaffer has excellent control, walking just 1.13 batters per nine innings last season and 1.20 for his career.

Like Smith, Shaffer went undrafted out of high school but that will change in June. Standing 6’5” and 200 pounds, Shaffer worked at 92-94 mph last season at his best. The prototypical pitcher’s frame, velocity, and low walk rate make Shaffer an intriguing prospect to follow for this draft season.

Logan Sowers, OF, Indiana

Sowers has the most distinguished pedigree in this bunch. As a prep standout at McCutcheon HS in Lafayettte, Sowers earned Indiana Mr. Baseball honors in 2014 before being drafted by the Padres in the 31st round that summer. Following through on his commitment to Indiana, Sowers started all 59 games for the Hoosiers as a freshman, finishing with a slash line of .257/.329/.427 and six

Following through on his commitment to Indiana, Sowers started all 59 games for the Hoosiers as a freshman, finishing with a slash line of .257/.329/.427 and six homeruns which earned him All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors. Sowers improved on his sophomore campaign, and he was named team MVP while hitting .273/.377/.466 and leading the team with eight home runs despite missing three weeks with a shoulder injury.

Perhaps what’s most encouraging sign is that Sowers was able to tap into his plus raw power while improving his strikeout to walk ratio from 3.19 to 1.64 year over year. The last live look I got of Sowers was early in his collegiate career as Cal State Fullerton’s Thomas Eshelman made him look like the raw teenager he was. Eshelman had a tendency to do that. I’m looking forward seeing the continued maturation this season to determine of my eyes corroborate what the numbers are indicating.

Champions aren’t crowned on paper, the games are decided on the field. But such a reality doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to take from stats and rosters and try to determine who is the best before the season starts.

Putting aside new faces and players primed for a breakout, here’s a look at which teams look to be the strongest on the mound and up the middle, based on who is coming back and has previously shown they have what it takes to compete at the Big Ten levels.

Starting pitchers

Maryland

The Terrapins lost all-everything ace Mike Shawaryn to the MLB Draft, a pitcher whose name is littered throughout the program’s record book. But the latter two-thirds of the Maryland rotation returns, providing as enviable and durable of a 1-2 punch as the Big Ten has seen in recent years. Junior right-hander pitcher Brian Shaffer led Maryland with an 8-3 record, tossing a team-best 103.2 innings. Shaffer’s 2.60 ERA only trailed classmate right-handed pitcher Taylor Bloom’s 2.43 mark over 102.1 innings. The two combined for 135 strikeouts and just 22 walks. Regardless of what Maryland gets in relief pitching and run production, Shaffer and Bloom will have Maryland in a position to win every weekend series.

Michigan State

All but three Big Ten teams will need to replace their Friday starter, but none have a candidate ready to step in who put up as impressive numbers in 2016 Michigan State redshirt sophomore Alex Troop, albeit in a short stint. Troop will take over the #1 spot in the MSU rotation after going 3-0 a year ago, sporting a 1.64 ERA. But a broken bone in the southpaw’s left thumb ended his season after 14 strikeouts in 11 innings. Junior right-handed pitcher Ethan Landon will resume his Saturday role, where he put together a very quiet but very strong season. In his first action with the Spartans, the transfer from Kansas State went 8-3 in 15 starts, pitching 85 innings with a 2.75 ERA. Michigan State will round its rotation with junior right-handed pitcher Andrew Gonzalez, he too had a sub-3.00 ERA at 2.84 in 54 innings over 17 appearances.

Michigan

The Wolverines have six viable starting pitchers at their disposal, lead by junior left-handed pitcher Oliver Jaskie. Jaskie shined as a sophomore, going 7-3 with a team-best 3.19 ERA. Though Michigan lost Brett Adcock to the draft and Evan Hill to graduation, two pitchers who combined for 26 starts and 141.2 innings, junior righty Ryan Nutof is an experienced arm who has been in the rotation. Nutof pitched 54 innings in 2016, to the tune of a 3.67 ERA. Michigan’s big junior class continues with Michael Hendrickson who returns from a season-ending injury, after striking out 16 in 10.2 innings.

Honorable Mention: Nebraska

The Cornhuskers return their entire rotation from their 2016 NCAA Regional team, with senior right-hander Derek Burkamper, sophomore right-hander Matt Waldron and junior left-handed Jake Meyers. The trio combined to pitch 196 innings, each with ERAs below 3.10. None of the three have overpowering stuff, respectively K/9 inning totals of 7.07, 6.69 and 4.62, relying on command and inducing weak contact. Due to minor forearm matter, Burkamper will enter the season in the bullpen.

Relief pitchers

Michigan State

The loss of an All-American, especially one as dominant as Dakota Mekkes, would normally be a setback to a perceived team strength. While Jake Boss would love another year with Mekkes, Michigan State should be fine. The Spartans likely won’t have a reliever capable of striking out 96 batters in 57 innings, pitch to a 1.74 ERA, they have five returners with sub-3.65 ERAs who were significant contributors. Junior Jake Lowery will be MSU’s swingman, an arm capable of shutting down an opponent or going multiple innings. Lowery had a 2.73 ERA in 26.1 innings in his return from Tommy John surgery. Senior left-hander Joe Mockbee and classmate right-hander Walter Borkovich can be situational arms, 120.1 innings were tossed between them in 2016. All Keegan Baar did as a sophomore was stymie batters to a .212 average in 42.1 innings. While sophomore right-hander Riley McCauley is set to take over the closer’s role for the Spartans, a year after pitching 17 innings with a 1.59 ERA.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes had a high octane offense in 2016, leading the Big Ten in doubles and home runs en route to the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in seven years. Gone are the extra-base machines Jacob Bosiokovic, Ronnie Dawson, Troy Kuhn, Troy Montgomery and Nick Sergakis, as good as Ohio State will rely on its pitching staff in 2017. Junior right-handed pitcher Seth Kinker has the ability to close a game or pitch in extended relief, turned to 38 times out of the bullpen, logging 54.2 innings while holding a 1.65. Closer Yianni Pavlopoulos returns after a 15-save, 3.03-ERA season, though he may be a starting option. If that is the case, Ohio State welcomes the return of senior Jake Post, a right-handed pitcher who missed the 2016 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, a capable closer. Another quality arm the Buckeyes relied heavily on who returns is senior Kyle Michalik. The submariner who tossed 32 innings of 1.69 ERA baseball as a key middle relief option.

Iowa

Rick Heller believes his 2017 Hawkeye team has the deepest pitching corp in his four seasons. Looking at his roster, he has good reason to believe so. Six of Iowa’s top seven relievers return from a team that carried a collective 3.54 ERA. Sophomore Sam Lizarraga is ready for a big time role after holding a .79 ERA in eight outings, pitching 11.1 innings. Another potential super sophomore, Zach Daniels led the Hawkeyes with five saves, toeing the rubber for 18 innings, finishing his freshman year with a 1.50 ERA. Between Daniels and Lizaragga, only seven walks were issued while 27 batters were struck out. Right-handed pitcher Josh Martsching returns for his senior season, ready to build on a strong 2016 where he finished the year with a 2.41 ERA in 18.2 innings. Nick Allgeyer, Ryan Erickson and midweek starter Cole McDonald are three more dependable relief arms, capable of helping the Hawkeyes hold a lead and secure a win.

Honorable Mention: Michigan

As mentioned, Michigan has nearly half-dozen potential options to round out its rotation after Oliver Jaskie takes the Friday role. Those on the outside of the rotation will be a top bullpen option to go with senior right-hander Jackson Lamb and junior right-handed closer Bryan Pall. Pall returns after saving four games in 2016, using a fastball-slider combination to strikeout 33 batters in 32 innings and finish the season with a 2.81 ERA.

Up the middle (Catcher, second base, shortstop)

Maryland

Maryland is home to the Big Ten’s top professional prospect for the 2016 MLB Draft in junior shortstop Kevin Smith. Though his spring numbers weren’t eye-popping, a .259 average with eight home runs, Smith went to the Cape and batted .301, being named an All-Star while showing scouts the ability to stick defensively at shortstop at the next level, and a belief that better days are ahead with the bat. Smith’s double play partner, sophomore Nick Dunn, needed only one college season to show he has a capable bat. Dunn led the Terrapins with a .300 average and 16 doubles in 2016, before he too was named a Cape Cod All-Star. Maryland struggled to receive consistency behind the plate a year ago, but both players who saw time, senior Nick Cieri and junior Justin Morris are back, looking to build upon a season where they allowed 56 stolen bases in 68 attempts, while respectively batting .256 and .194.

Michigan

The depth of Michigan’s pitching staff is complimented with the return of catcher Harrison Wenson. A 39th-round flier by the Pittsburgh Pirates in June’s draft, Wenson opted to return for his senior year. In Wenson, Michigan has a durable catcher, a tough-nosed player as Wenson battled wrist and thumb injury throughout the 2016 season, still starting all 57 games. Wenson batted .289 on the year but did allow 16 passed balls. Behind the Michigan starter on the mound, both middle infielders return. Senior shortstop Michael Brdar is a steady glove, making the routine plays while sophomore second baseman Ako Thomas is a superb athlete, capable of making the spectacular play. Brdar a JUCO transfer, Thomas a freshman, both were serviceable with the bat in their first season of Big Ten play, respective .250 and .258 average, but will be asked of a bit more as Michigan looks to win its first Big Ten championship since 2008.

Michigan State

Like Michigan, Michigan State saw its catcher turn down a professional opportunity to return to school. Senior Matt Byars blossomed in 2016, becoming a premier two-way catcher. At the plate, Byars, a 24th-round pick of the Minnesota Twins, batted .284 with 16 doubles and four home runs. Behind the dish, the Spartan committed only two errors with six passed balls. Throwing out a runner 12 times, Byars has senior Dan Durkin on the receiving end of throws at second base. Durkin batted .324 while starting all 56 games for MSU, posting a .963 fielding percentage. Michigan State will potentially platoon at shortstop until either Kory Young or Royce Ando asserts himself over the other. Young’s .224 average bettered Ando’s .197 clip, but Ando did collect three triples and is a player capable of making the WOW play look routine.

Honorable Mention: Indiana

Ryan Fineman turned in a strong debut season for a freshman catcher. Starting 50 games, Fineman batted .268 with eight doubles and three home runs. A good debut season at the plate, Fineman was better with the glove and arm. Committing just four errors with six passed balls, Fineman also showed an ability to control the opposition’s running game, throwing out 41% of would-be base stealers. Senior second baseman Tony Butler did not commit an error in 203 chances, though his .221 average made him one-dimensional. IU struggled to find either a bat or defensive wizard at shortstop, opening the door for highly-touted freshman Jeremy Houston to make an impact from the start.

The Big Ten has produced a first-round pick each of the last three seasons, with Kyle Schwarber, Tyler Jay and Cody Sedlock emerging as one of the country’s top talents. Again, the Big Ten is not short of standout individual talent with Maryland’s Kevin Smith and Nebraska’s Jake Meyers receiving preseason All-American honors.

But beyond those two, there are several players ready to step into greater roles, capable of putting together noteworthy seasons. Here’s a look at five players primed for breakout seasons.

Maryland Soph. OF Marty Costes

It might not be fair to list Maryland sophomore outfielder Marty Costes as a player primed for a breakout season, he did lead Maryland with nine home runs, the most by a Big Ten freshman, after all. But if even gradual improvements are seen across the board, Costes has a chance to be the Big Ten’s Player of the Year and an All-American. Costes batted .260 in his freshman year, collecting 10 doubles with a pair of doubles, to reach 21 extra-base hits. The power, a .216 isolated slugging percentage, wasn’t terribly compromised with outrageous strikeouts, 21% of at-bats ended in strikeouts, while 28 walks spurred Costes to a .363 on-base percentage. During the Big Ten Tournament, Costes said he didn’t have the best approach as a freshman, there were times he’d chase bad pitches. With a year under his belt and better knowledge of the game, a banner year may be on deck.

Ohio State Jr. OF Tre’ Gantt

Tre’ Gantt emerged as a dynamic player for Ohio State in the second-half of the 2015 season. Arriving on campus in time for the winter semester, Gantt wasted no time getting up to speed and making an impact for the Buckeyes, batting .311 as a freshman over 74 at-bats. But Gantt had labrum surgery following the 2015 season and a slow start to his sophomore campaign led to a step backward offensive. Gantt did show a little more pop in year two, after collecting just one double and one triple in 2015, the outfielder picked up eight doubles, but he was unable to consistently reach base, finishing the season with a .255 average and .311 on-base percentage. More than a year removed from the surgery, the Buckeyes expect Gantt to excel in 2017, as a switch from right field to his natural center field position to help. Slated to start on opening day for the first time, with the departures of Ronnie Dawson and Trom Montgomery, the opportunity is there for Gantt to assert himself as the leader of the Buckeye outfield.

Indiana Jr. RHP Brian Hobbie

Since he arrived in Bloomington, Indiana junior right-handed pitcher Brian Hobbie has looked the part of a big-time college pitcher. Standing six-foot-seven, weighing 227 pounds, Hobbie is a physical presence on the mound. Long-limbed, the ball seemingly crosses home plate in no time. Hobbie does possess a low-90s fastball, a heavy offering that can continually induce weak contact, so his pitches have enough giddy-up. Hobbie has shown flashes of brilliance but the Hoosiers are waiting for everything to come together. Sporting a 6.27 ERA over 18.2 innings as a freshman, Hobbie took a step in the right direction as a sophomore, lowering his ERA to 2.08 in 8.2 innings. But after striking out 19 batters against six walks in 2015, Hobbie walked five and struck out three in 2016, contributing to a decrease in usage. Hobbie’s best 2016 effort came in the summer, earning Prospect League Pitcher of the Year honors after holding an 0.82 ERA over 54.2 innings. As Indiana needs to replace its entire rotation, the innings will be there for Hobbie to make an impact.

Minnesota Soph. OF Ben Mezzenga

With Dan Motl batting .336, dialing up 19 doubles and playing superb defense, the opportunities for Ben Mezzenga to make an impact for Minnesota were limited. Making four starts, Mezzenga picked up three hits in 21 at-bats. But don’t think Mezzenga didn’t try his best to leave his mark. Mezzenga stole three bases in three opportunities, to help him score seven runs. In the summer, with a full season of reps, Mezzenga showed why the Gophers are high on him heading into the new season. In 34 games with the Eau Claire Express, Mezzenga batted .321, scored 39 runs, and continued his base stealing prowess, swiping 22 bags. Able to run 60 yards in 6.6 seconds, Mezzenga is viewed as one of the best Minnesota athletes since two-sport standout Eric Decker, with a chance to be an impact the game with the bat, his glove and on the bases.

Illinois Soph. 3B Bren Spillane

Those who cover Midwestern high school baseball saw Illinois’ Bren Spillane as one of the most college-ready players in the high school class of 2015. With an advanced feel for hitting and the ability to hit with power, Spillane was viewed as a player capable of stepping in and contributing from day one for an Illini tweet hit hard that June by the draft. But Spillane suffered a concussion towards the end of his final prep season, and the effects lingered throughout his freshman year. Limited to just two starts and five total games, Spillane went hitless in nine at-bats before Illinois opted to hold him out for the rest of the season. With no symptoms, Spillane looks to have a big second season, this past fall proof of what he’s capable of. In Illinois’ intra-squad Blue and Orange series, Spillane had a three-home run game, a second multi-hit contest and capped the week with two RBI. Dan Hartleb and staff expects Spillane to be a force in the heart of the Illini lineup as the team seeks a fourth regional appearance in seven seasons.

Penn State Soph. INF Connor Klemann

Purdue Soph. C Nick Dalesandro

Michigan State Jr. FHP Andrew Gonzalez

Michigan Jr. RHP Jayce Vance

The 2017 season is littered with big series, week after week in the Big Ten. Here is a look at 10 series which will shape the season.

Penn State at TCU, Feb. 17-19

Penn State has improved upon the previous season in each of Rob Cooper’s first three seasons in State College. The Nittany Lions finished the 2016 season with a 28-27 record, above .500 for the first time since 2012, going 12-12 in Big Ten play. Penn State finished in a tie for eighth in the conference, with Illinois and Iowa, but due to tiebreakers was on the outside of the Big Ten Tournament field. Penn State will have an opportunity right out of the gate to put to rest any lingering wishes of last season, opening the 2017 season at consensus #1 TCU. Penn State returns its entire weekend rotation from 2016 and the talent base and depth continues to build for the Nittany Lions. There is no greater opportunity to see how far the program than facing a program which has appeared in three consecutive College World Series. Penn State played TCU tough in a three-game set last year in State College, ultimately being swept. If Penn State can leave Fort Worth with a win, Coop’s crew may be in line for a breakout year.

Maryland at LSU, Feb. 24-26

Maryland’s series at LSU has been circled from the day the respective schedules were put out. Tabbed the Big Ten’s favorite by national media, Maryland’s mettle will be tested early. There is no environment in college baseball like LSU’s Alex Box Stadium, but this is a Maryland team used to unwelcoming settings. It wasn’t long ago the Terrapins were coming off of back-to-back super regional appearances, in fact, that was just last year. With across the board preseason rankings, expectations are again high for Maryland. The meeting with the Tigers will not provide an opportunity to build a strong RPI, but if Maryland performs as many expect, they could be in line for a regional host at year’s end, and an early season win on the road against a top 10 team would be quite the bullet on a resume. The series will also likely have the best pitching matchup of any game involving a Big Ten team this season when Terrapin Brian Shaffer toes the mound opposite LSU’s Alex Lange, both strong draft prospects, to kick the weekend off.

Rutgers at Virginia, Feb. 24-26

Rutgers opens the season at Miami, and 2016 College World Series participant, providing a tough opponent from the start. But it is Rutgers’ second weekend, still against a very good opponent, at Virginia that figures to be a better gauge on what’s in front of the Scarlet Knights in 2017. Joe Litterio’s team now calls the glistening Fred Hill Training Complex home, a fully turfed indoor infield, which allows Rutgers to do everything on a diamond indoor it seeks to do outside. This is quite critical in the preparation for the New Jersey program. Expected to be as game-ready as ever to enter the season, it’s still hard to duplicate the outdoor nature of baseball. With a weekend under their belt, how Rutgers battles Virginia, the 2015 national champions, should show if the team is on an upward trend. Can Rutgers pull the upset and leave Charlottesville with a weekend win? Even grabbing one win will show Rutgers will have a say in how the Big Ten table shakes out.

Michigan at Lipscomb, March 10-12

Michigan’s depth on the mound paired with a few questions in the gives the Wolverines an opportunity to bring the Big Ten championship, and a NCAA regional, to Ann Arbor for the first time since 2008. The Wolverines open March in the four-team Dodgertown Classic field alongside San Diego and hosts UCLA and USC, putting Michigan against top competition early in the season. But the following weekend is one to keep an eye on. In Nashville, Michigan will meet Lipscomb for a three-game series, its first weekend set against a team expected to reach the NCAA Tournament. Not only is Lipscomb viewed by national media as regional-bound, in some corners they’re seen as a College World Series darkhorse. Led by preseason All-American outfielder Michael Gigliotti, Lipscomb swept preseason Atlantic Sun coaches honors. Tabbed as conference favorites, Gigliotti is the ASUN Preseason Player and Defensive Player of the Year, while Brady Puckett earned Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

Michigan State at South Carolina, March 10-12

Michigan State broke a 33-year NCAA Tournament drought in 2012, a year after being conference co-champions with Illinois. For six seasons now, Jake Boss’ team has been a club in the mix for conference championships and NCAA Tournament berths. Unfortunately, Michigan State has yet to duplicate either feat, painstakingly being the first team left out of the 2013 NCAA Tournament and one of the first four out in 2015. But every year, Michigan State attempts to put itself a position to be considered for a tournament berth, seeking out tough competition away from home. From Texas A&M to UCLA and Oregon, there is no place MSU won’t go. This year, they take on Southeastern Conference power South Carolina. Like their in-state rivals in Ann Arbor, the team in East Lansing has a roster strong enough to bring a NCAA Regional to town. Grabbing a road win in Columbia will give MSU the credibility it needs to show they are for real, to get over the hump and return to the NCAA Tournament.

Minnesota at Ohio State, March 24-26

The pre-conference slate is filled with big series from coast to coast, putting teams in position to have a big 2017. The Big Ten season kicks off pitting two teams against each other, looking to continue what was started in 2016. The reigning Big Ten Tournament champions welcome the reigning conference champions for a banner series out of the gate. Due to conference expansion and schedule quarks, Ohio State has not played host to Minnesota since 2012. Two tradition-ladened clubs, it’s mind-blogging five years could pass between the Gophers last trip to Columbus. On paper, both teams lost a lot from 2016 regional clubs, for Minnesota, the Big Ten Player of the Year Matt Fiedler is now in the pro ranks, the same for Ohio State’s Ronnie Dawson, the Big Ten Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. But enough parts return where a run at another conference crown should not be unexpected, nor a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. Which team can start conference play on the right note will get a shot in the arm in turning a one-year rise into sustain success.

Maryland at Nebraska, April 7-9

In each of the last three seasons, the Big Ten has yet to see the top two finishers square off in a weekend series. The 2016 season ended in high drama with Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio State all with a shot at the conference title, with the four teams squaring off in two series, but the season ended with Minnesota at the top, Nebraska second, one half-game separating the two with a game played between them. Illinois’ historic 21-1 season came without playing second-place Iowa. The 2014 Big Ten Tournament championship game was a sensational spectacle, in part because Indiana and Nebraska, two ranked teams did not play in the regular season. Will this finally end? On the accord on national media, Nebraska is right there with Maryland as the team to beat in the Big Ten. An early April weekend sees the two square off, and it should be a dandy. Maryland’s dynamic pitching duo of Shaffer and Taylor Bloom will go against Nebraska’s big boopers in Scott Schreiber and Ben Miller. Both clubs have talent and experience, both are led by hard-nosed, no-nonsense coaches. With Hawks Field capable of filling up with thousands upon thousands, this will be a must-see series.

Xavier at Indiana, May 5-7

It’s a sneaky good non-conference series, quite the pickup for Indiana in its bye week. And the Hoosier didn’t have to look far for its opponent. While a mid-major, Xavier has a very capable team in 2017, should not be overlooked for a lack of power conference stature. The Musketeers, who may be home to the best pitching prospect in the Midwest in Zac Lowther, are the Big East preseason favorites return several capable players, from its Nashville Regional runners-up team. The Hoosiers will be the third Big Ten team Xavier faces in a weekend series, following Penn State and Ohio State, and, while the results do no count, have left Bloomington with an exhibition victory in each of the last two Autumns. Indiana returns its entire lineup and by May, the completely new rotation should have settled in. Looking to appear in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years, May will be a big month for the Hoosiers hopes, starting with this series against the Queen City club.

Long Beach State at Minnesota, May 12-14

Minnesota will open the season at the Big West’s UC Irvine and will conclude it’s out-of-conference slate by welcoming the Big West’s Long Beach State to Minneapolis in May. Long Beach State enters the season with a national ranking, looking primed to build on its program’s storied history. Minnesota is absent a preseason ranking, but they’ll be looking to do the same, shooting for a Big Ten-best 31st NCAA Tournament appearance. By mid-May, RPI fluctuations will have calmed, teams will have a dozen weekends of showing who they are and what they’re capable of. For Minnesota to have a quality opponent come to town this late in the season is a boon. The Gophers will have the ability to make a final statement on the national landscape and potentially propel itself to a second consecutive NCAA Tournament, for the first time since 2004.

Michigan vs. Michigan State, May 18-20

Oh, what a dandy this could be. When Michigan and Michigan State meet, the two come together for a split-site series, alternating between two home games around one road contest, year after year. Last year, when the teams met in the final weekend of April, more than 7,000 fans came out to watch the rivals square off. That was with overcast skies twice in Ann Arbor and on a gray Saturday in East Lansing, the temperature resting in the upper 40s throughout the weekend. What could the turnout be if the two face off the final weekend of the season, with temperatures climbing into the 70s, as two teams stocked with pitchers and capable bats do battle? The imagination runs wild, what a way to end the season.

In kicking off a new season, it’s only appropriate to say hello and introduce those who are new to the Big Ten. Here’s a look at transfers new to the Big Ten with the potential to have a big impact with their new clubs. The Big Ten has seen transfers pay immediate dividends over the last five years, with the likes of Indiana’s Caleb Baragar, Michigan’s Cody

Here’s a look at transfers new to the conference with the potential to have a big impact with their new clubs. The Big Ten has seen transfers pay immediate dividends over the past few years, with the likes of Indiana’s Caleb Baragar, Michigan’s Cody Bruder and Michigan State’s Jordan Zimmerman, who will be next?

Also, as we say hello to a few new guys, we re-introduce a few players returning to competition that look to figure prominently into the success of their team.

Welcome to the Big Ten

Iowa 1B Jake Adams

A two-year standout at Des Moines Area Community College, Adams will step into the first base vacancy created with the graduation of Tyler Peyton. While Peyton was a do-it-all, two-way talent, Adams is your prototypical first baseman, a physical presence with big raw power. Earning All-American honors in 2016, Adams batted .360 with 25 home runs and 75 RBI for DMACC, slugging .860 a year after slugging 17 long balls. If Adams can produce just half of his gaudy JUCO power numbers at the Division I level, the 6-for-2, 250-pound Hawkeye will be a force to reckon with.

Iowa C Tyler Cropley

Heading into his fourth season in Iowa City, Rick Heller has relied heavily on the JUCO ranks to deepen the Hawkeye roster in rebuilding the program. Leading Iowa to three consecutive 30-win seasons, Heller has found the right talent to spearhead Iowa’s charge. Like Adams, junior catcher Tyler Cropley is expected to be another instant performer. Cropley transfers in from Iowa Western, where he hit .403 as a sophomore in 2016. The batting line is impressive, but what the Hawkeye staff most raves about is Cropley’s speed and athleticism. Cropley is expected to be the Hawkeyes leadoff batter and is versatile enough to play center field if needed. He’s viewed as the best catcher Heller and staff have had to date.

Michigan OF Miles Lewis

Lewis arrives in Ann Arbor with previous Division I experience, a standout season to boot. Lewis was named the Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 2016 but needed a new home when North Dakota cut its baseball program. Receiving interest from across the country, Lewis, a native of Hudson, Wis., opted to return to the Midwest to join the Wolverines. In 45 games for the Fighting Hawks, Lewis batted .360 with five doubles, two triples and three home runs, stealing 20 bases.

Ohio State 2B Noah McGowan

Take a look at Ohio State’s starting second baseman and one may think he belongs on the gridiron, not diamond. A stout six-foot, 210-pound athlete, Noah McGowan’s father did play football at Stanford, but baseball is the choice for the Buckeye. McGowan arrives in Columbus by way of McClennan Community College, one of three Buckeyes from the Texas junior college, along with pitchers Reece Calvert and Dustin Jourdan. Last year, McGowan batted .393 with seven home runs, scoring 43 runs in 43 games for the Highlanders. McGowan looks to be a heart of the lineup threat.

Maryland OF Will Watson

Maryland head coach John Szefc received a good player from LSU-Eunice a year ago in Madison Nickens. Appearing in 56 games, Nickens led Maryland with 40 runs scored, finished second on the team with eight home runs, batting .260 in the process. The Terps hope similar production comes from junior outfielder Will Watson, another product from LSU-Eunice. Watson carried a .312 average next to a .482 on-base percentage and .518 slugging percentage for the junior college in 2016, driving in 40 runs while scoring 57 in 57 games.

Purdue LHP Nick Wojtysiak

An assistant at Oregon, and Arizona before that, Purdue head coach Mark Wasikowski knows how to mine the west coast for talent. As he looks to rebuild the Boilermaker program, he brings in Nick Wojtysiak, a native of Arizona, to help bolster Purdue’s bullpen. From Fountain Hills, Ariz., Wojtysiak attended and pitched for Pepperdine in 2015. After totaling four innings in four games, Wojtysiak moved on to pitch Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix for the 2016 season. Now, the southpaw, with a 90-mile-per-hour fastball and slider combination, looks to find a home in West Lafayette.

Welcome back

Michigan LHP Michael Hendrickson

Michael Hendrickson shined bright for Michigan in 2016. But as bright as his season was, it was also short. Starting the season as a long-relief option, before making a March 2 start against San Jose State, Hendrickson pitched 10.2 innings over three games. Scattering three runs for a 2.53 ERA, Hendrickson’s stats continued to stand out with 16 strikeouts next to only two walks. Limiting opponents to a .158 average, Hendrickson’s season ending after his 4.2-inning out against the Trojans, sidelined for the rest of the year with ulnar nerve injury. Reading to return to action, Hendrickson has a chance to emerge from a deep Wolverine pitching staff and take a spot in the Michigan rotation.

Nebraska RHP Jake Hohensee

Jake Hohensee missed all of the 2016 season recovering from offseason Tommy John surgery, but the last time the Husker right-hander saw extended action, he showed what he’s capable of. Making 12 relief appearance in 2015, Hohensee tossed 17.1 innings, conceding just four earned runs for a 2.08 ERA. Hohensee’s team-best ERA stood next to 14 strikeouts and six walks, holding the opposition to a .167 average over 60 at-bats. Hohensee will likely be limited to one outing per weekend, but he can play a big role for the Huskers in being a reliable relieve, capable of shutting down an opponent.

Ohio State RHP Jake Post

Jake Post last saw action for Ohio State in April 2015, providing a strong bullpen option for Greg Beals as the Buckeyes cracked the polls for the first time since 2010. A forearm strain, which ultimately led to Tommy John surgery prior to the 2016 season, sidelined Post for the final month of the season, one where the Buckeyes stumbled and went from potential regional host to outside of the NCAA Tournament. A fifth-year senior whose fastball sits in the low-90s, Post brings leadership and a live arm to the Buckeyes. Carrying a 2.12 ERA over 29.2 innings in 2015, Post holds a career 3.48 ERA in 108.2 innings on the mound, with 89 strikeouts next to 35 walks.

Michigan State LHP/1B Alex Troop

Alex Troop was viewed as a bit of a wunderkind when he arrived in East Lansing, in the fall of 2014. Having speed, power and arm strength, it wasn’t a matter of when Troop would be a force for the Spartans, but where he best fit. Troop pitched in 13 games, making seven starts, while playing 26 games in the field, making 14 starts in the outfield. Overall, the numbers were pedestrian, a 5.27 ERA in 42.2 innings, and a .226 batting average in 53 at-bats, but flashes of promise showed. That promise turned into production in 2016, albeit briefly. In four relief outings, Troop lowered his ERA to 1.64, striking out 14 batters with three walks in 11 innings. At the plate, Troop batted .372 over 12 games, grabbing six doubles and a home run. His season was cut short with a broken scaphoid bone in his left thumb, forcing a cast on his hand until June. No lingering issues, Troop is expected to take the ball on the mound on Friday nights for Michigan State and settle in at first base when not pitching. Troop has the ability to make an impact at the plate, on the mound and in the field, and likely won’t need long to reintroduce himself to college baseball.